Graduate School #30, The Bullet Catch

I go to various forensic meetings, including the New England Seminar in Forensic Sciences at Colby College. While there is a set curriculum covering all forensic pathology topics, both topical and review, in the evening, I most prefer the “Roll Your Own” sessions. It is in those sessions that I found my 12 Days of Coroner’s Christmas had made it to the Antipodes, the dreaded MorBark 1300, and that nothing runs like a Deere.

I presented a case of granulomatous myocarditis and a historical review of the ‘cursed’ magic trick, the bullet catch, in which “12 have died”. [Actually, it’s about 14 now, but one of the deaths was from blunt force trauma, where the magician’s assistant beat the magician to death with the gun. I’m not sure that this counts as a cursed trick and as a moral about treating your assistant well.]The Bullet Catch The Heart of The Matter

Cranial Nerds #1.1

I just started facilitating a group of medical students in their final basic science block, block 6–covering neurology, neuropathology, and psychiatry. They decided to call themselves the “Cranial Nerds”. They went through the first case slowly and thoroughly, we ran out of time sort of for the second case, but the differential diagnoses were similar.

In putting together a list of differential diagnoses, it is wise to lump them into aetological categories. Musculoskeletal, Neurological, Infectious, Neoplastic, Metabolic, Congenital, Developmental. etc.

Leslie Nielsen R.I.P.

Leslie Nielsen, Sargent Frank Drebbin, Detective Lieutenant, Police Squad is dead at age 84.

And yes, this is some kind of bust. http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/exkiaSEu-Q4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

And She’s Here All Week

Family Friend “Dr. Zeus says all his patients are dead, does that mean he’s a pathologist or something?”

Doc’s Mom. “No, that means he’s the world’s worst cardio-thoracic surgeon. He drops things and doesn’t know h is right from his left under pressure.”

Bada-boom!

Thanksgiving

Today is the day of Thanksgiving in the United States. I recently ran into someone who was a Jehovah’s Witness, who declined to celebrate Thanksgiving, for reasons that he could not articulate. He said it was an ancient pagan ceremony. I said that I did not realize Abraham Lincoln was pagan, and I didn’t think 1863 was all that ancient, in the grand scheme of things. I got a funny look for that statement.

But the fact remains, in 1863, after the Union victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg marked the high-water mark of the Confederacy. Though the war would drag onwards for another eighteen months or so, in late 1863 the tide had turned, and in honour of which, Abraham Lincoln made a presidential proclamation of thanksgiving–which follows:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

It is certainly fitting to be grateful for the gifts that we have been given. My grandfather always told me “Never say, ‘How bad can it get?’ It can always get worse.” I am lucky for all that I have, lucky for antibiotics and modern medicine, with useful work that I do that makes a difference, and good people to be around.

Today, I will have the traditional Chinese take-away, with the ritual wonton soup, the egg rolls, the spare ribs and the mu shu. I’ll get that while the pie is baking. I hope you all enjoy your families.

All Linky, No Thinky

In view of the artillery duel in Korea, I liked the thoughts of I Want A New Left.

I’ve thought that it was very easy to be an “alternative” journalist (columnist, commentator, what have you) for all one has to do is second-guess and criticise what the administration/power structure/mayor, fill in the blank was doing. It’s really easy to sit back and nit pick. actually doing something constructive, now, that’s a whole other matter.

But I think it is a valid question, is one anti-war or just anti-going-to-war-yourself? Non-violent protest is all well and good, if you are dealing with an adversary with a conscience. If your adversary just doesn’t care, one needs must look to one’s weapons.

Overheard in Class

Dr. Zeus. Like any self-respecting mad scientist, I want henchmen. Minions to do my evil bidding.

Student What about health insurance? I will do your evil bidding for health insurance.

Dr. Zeus Let’s talk, shall we?

Wandering Ways

Graduate School #30

Cleveland Crime and Mayhem

Shondor Birns, Danny Green, the Cuyahoga Burns, as does Ralph Perk’s hair.

Lecture 29-30 Cleveland Death and Mayhem

Graduate School #29

Toxicology x 2. And Tox takes Time. Rohde Cyanide 6

The Class in action